We were lucky to catch up with Mathieu Cailler recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Mathieu , thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
I think all of “becoming an artist” is risky. It’s not an easy choice to make and it involves a good amount of sacrifice. Many people won’t truly be able to understand a job that is not traditional and does not involve a direct path to toward a goal. A writer can take courses, send out manuscripts, but there’s no guarantee or anything. It is essential to love the craft and be gentle with one’s self.
Mathieu , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I decided in about 2010 that I wanted to purse writing more or less full-time. I wanted to dedicate myself to art the same way I was dedicating myself to my day job. That would truly allow me to hone my skills, so I enrolled in an MFA program at Vermont College and went from there. At Vermont College, I learned what being a writer truly looked like, the hours needed to craft and polish a short story, and the best part was–I loved it. I knew then that I wanted this to be the theme of my life and not just a motif.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I don’t think you need permission to begin. Just go and see what happens. Art is play, and when you’re a kid, you just play. You just mess around and bump into new ideas. As an adult, this is difficult. We are expected to work through structure and not “waste time,” but really this idea halts incredible ideas. Just begin. If you haven’t taken a course, that’s ok. If you aren’t sure where to begin, that’s ok, too. If you don’t like your first draft, welcome to the club. It’s not something that needs to be perfect, so enjoy a bit of the mess if you are able.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I love connecting with readers. Every now and then, I’ll get an email from someone about a specific book or poem or story that really resonated with a reader and helped them see something in a new way–it’s a very special moment.
Contact Info:
- Website: mathieucailler.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writesfromla/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/em.cee.372/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/writesfromla
- Other: https://www.pw.org/directory/writers/mathieu_cailler